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I definitely agree that the front 7 needs some additions, I wouldn't be surprised though if Rex thinks that between Jenks and Pitoitua returning there will be enough talent on the line to look elsewhere. That leaves OLB, a position that i think we could really use an upgrade. Pass Rusher is far and away our #1 need IMO

Obviously this depends quite a bit on whether or not people get re-signed (losing any of the bigger ones would open a large hole, and if both WR's go that's easily the biggest need), but I'd agree that pass rush is the biggest need. The question I guess becomes how you're going to get it. If they'll continue to use overloads and things of that nature you might have more effectiveness getting free blitzers if your DL's take up more blockers, so that could indirectly help. I think an OLB definitely makes sense though, but I'd like to see an explosive player who could really be a dominant pass rusher as opposed to an all-around player.

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Obviously this depends quite a bit on whether or not people get re-signed (losing any of the bigger ones would open a large hole, and if both WR's go that's easily the biggest need), but I'd agree that pass rush is the biggest need. The question I guess becomes how you're going to get it. If they'll continue to use overloads and things of that nature you might have more effectiveness getting free blitzers if your DL's take up more blockers, so that could indirectly help. I think an OLB definitely makes sense though, but I'd like to see an explosive player who could really be a dominant pass rusher as opposed to an all-around player.

This is exactly how I feel. We got two downhill, mighty strong inside linebackers in Scott and Harris. Both a strong against the run but really dont cover a lot of ground. Pace and Bryan Thomas are also bigger OLB who do well against the run, are strong at the point of attack but scare nobody off the edge. All in all our linebackers all share the same strengths - power, size, strength, toughness - and the same weaknesses - lack of speed and athletisism, coverage ability. Scott wont go anywhere, Harris I guess will be resigned and Pace also has another year on his deal before cutting him would make sense. BT would save us almost 4 million and he is also the oldest of the group. Let him go, draft a replacement and maybe even sign someone else as a free agent as Taylor will be let go too.

One thing I thought about is that I could definitely see the Jets trade up again if they really like someone in round one. The Pats are sitting right in front of them and they got a need at OLB too. When you think about it and depending on how free agency goes, in our areas of need (OLB, DL) we got a ton of depth but we dont really have a serious playmakers upfront. Now if the Jets think they can get a true star, an impact player, then I could see the moving up for this player. This is the biggest issue we have in the front seven. Tons of solid depth, tough guys, hard nosed workers but no real stars, no guys you gotta scheme for or players who put fear into an opposing offense.

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Justin Houston from Georgia is an interesting prospect. He has experience playing OLB in the 3-4 so it would be a smooth transition into the NFL. I know he had 10 sacks last year and I think he could have improved on that if he would have decided to stay for his senior season this upcoming fall. I'm not sure if he'll fall to us but I can dream.

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I really disagree. If Tanny and Rex really like a player that much, they have shown that they will do what is necessary to get him

They probably would trade up but losing all of these draft picks are hurting the team, imo. It's great to do once in a while but when you do it year after year and only have lets just say 4 picks in one draft, well that kills depth.

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They probably would trade up but losing all of these draft picks are hurting the team, imo. It's great to do once in a while but when you do it year after year and only have lets just say 4 picks in one draft, well that kills depth.

Idk, usually you would think that it would result in a lack of depth but looking at the team right now can you really say that's the case? We have depth in both trenches, a deep receiving core (pending free agency), a deep group of linebackers, and a deep secondary (pending free agency again). What we lack is premiere talent in the front 7. I really would not mind trading up in the draft for a Cam Jordan or Von Miller. Then we could use money that would have went to later round picks to re-sign guys we already have

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There's just so many guys who make sense at either DE or OLB that I imagine somebody good is going to drop. Without many picks and with a few holes (potentially more after FA) I think it might make more sense to stand pat. At DE you've got Jordan, Heyward, and Watt who seem like pretty surefire first rounders. A guy like Clayborn might be able to fit, same with Liuget since a few of the ends here are in the 6'3 range, Ballard seems like he might move up into the late first round range and seems like he would fit, Wilkerson's getting late first round talk, and maybe Allen Bailey too. That's not even counting Fairley and Dareus who should be off the board. At OLB Quinn should be gone but might drop like Dez Bryant last year and is an absolute stud, Kerrigan could probably make the move, Houston played standing up at Georgia as did Miller at Texas A&M, and Smith is an incredible athlete who could really excel standing up. Then Ayers needs to project a little bit to play 3-4 OLB and hasn't rushed the passer much but seems to have the athleticism to do it. Should be an option there, that's 16 guys, not all of them are perfect but that's only counting those two positions. Somebody's going to drop.

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Idk, usually you would think that it would result in a lack of depth but looking at the team right now can you really say that's the case? We have depth in both trenches, a deep receiving core (pending free agency), a deep group of linebackers, and a deep secondary (pending free agency again). What we lack is premiere talent in the front 7. I really would not mind trading up in the draft for a Cam Jordan or Von Miller. Then we could use money that would have went to later round picks to re-sign guys we already have

Perfectly said. It's really astonishing what Rex did with the defense in the last two years considering he basically never had a real consistent impact player on the front seven. You had a game from Ellis here and there or Pace would show up every once in a while but in the end the Jets front seven really is not tremendously talented. Sure, they are a tough, gritty, physical group but after losing Jenkins they do not have on true difference maker in there who can take over the game on his own... I also could see the Jets shooting for that type of player in the draft and it would make sense. Depth is not the problem, especially not on defense.

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The guy who is going to get more and has already started to get a bunch of hype is Brooks Reed. He is getting compared to Clay Matthews and if one can look past his appearance (hair and skin color) you can see a ton of similarities.

It's going to be interesting to see what Reed does at the combine, as Matthews had an otherworldly 1.49? second 10 yard dash and helped move him into the first round. Reed has tremendous size at 6'2.5" and 257 lbs, but also has the same nonstop-play-to-the-whistle motor that clay has and offers a number of pass rush moves.

Like Clay, he came into College much lighter, although still impressive for a HS senior, at 6'2" 215 pounds. He put in the work (coming in as a H-back and redshirting) and has grown every year.

Having a best friend who's a UW alum and athlete, I was exposed to the 'Zona pass rushers for a little while now. Never having really known their names other than watch them just wreak havoc on the pac 10, I was always amazed at how relentless they both were. I think picking at 30 allows us the type of flexibility that the Colts have always had; you don't feel the need to pick a household name persay, but grab someone you know will fit your system and team.

In ending. I love Brooks Reed and I hope I'm not just drinking the koolaide.

"When it's third and ten, you can take the milk drinkers and I'll take the whiskey drinkers every time."

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I'be been hearing a lot of good things about Brooks Reed. I know Shane Hallam was talking about him earlier in the season so I wanted to see for myself what the hype was about and I came away impressed. Not sure if he could be a teams "# 1 passrusher" but he'll be a good player in the pros.

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I definitely like Reed, but I wonder if he's a little overvalued at this point if he's considered a viable option at #30 and not somebody who would be a decent option of we reach for need. I'll be honest, I haven't seen too much Arizona football, but I wonder why he got outperformed by a teammate with considerably lesser physical ability. Beyond that the Clay Matthews comparisons probably pump him up a little more than he would have been otherwise if Matthews hadn't exploded this year. I could definitely be wrong on him, but I think he's just got a ton of helium right now and he'll settle down a bit. Lots of guys have been talked about as potential first rounders who haven't even come close.